Combination of vacuum cleaner and cordwinder



Dec. 27 1960 A. H. BEEDE ETAL 2,965,916

COMBINATION OF VACUUM CLEANER AND CORDWINDER Filed March 29, 1957- 2SheetS -Sheet 1 INVENTORS file/vow H 6550! 0445A! P. 00w;

THEIR ATTORNEY Dec. 27, 1960 A. H. BEEDE ETAL 2,965,916

COMBINATION OF VACUUM CLEANER AND CORDWINDER Filed March 29. 1957 2Sheets-Sheet 2 QENQLD #55506 r9; LEN P CHWL 'kzwzm mam ATTORNEY UnitedStates Patent COMBINATION OF VACUUM CLEANER AND CORDWINDER Arnold H.Beede, Stamford, and Allen P. Cawl, Noroton Heights, Conn., assignors toElectrolux Corporation, Greenwich, Conn., a corporation of DelawareFiled Mar. 29, 1957, Ser. No. 649,444

Claims. (Cl. -323) Our invention relates to an improved combination of avacuum cleaner and a detachable cordwinder.

One of the objects of our invention is to provide a new and improvedarrangement for attaching and detaching a cordwinder to a vacuum cleanerof the tank type, the cordwinder being attached in such a position thatit will not interfere with the connection of a hose to the exhaustopening of the cleaner, and hence need not be detached when it isdesired to use the cleaner for blowing purposes.

Another object of our invention is to provide an improved arrangementwhereby attaching the cordwinder to the cleaner automaticallyestablishes electrical connections between the two.

Further objects and advantages of our invention will be apparent fromthe following description when considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings which form part of the specification and of which:

Fig. l is a side view, chiefly in cross-section, showing a preferredembodiment of our invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the vacuum cleaner shown in Fig. l, but withthe cordwinder removed;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2, butwith the cordwinder secured in place;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the cordwinder shown in Figs. 1 and 3;

Fig. 5 is a top view of the cordwinder shown in Fig. 4

l and;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a locking member.

Referring to the drawings, reference character 16 designates generallyan elongated housing provided with a pair of rear wheels 12 and a frontcaster wheel 14 for movably supporting it on a surface. A removablecover 16 serves to normally close the front end of the housing 10, andthis cover is provided with an inlet opening 18 to which may beconnected a flexible hose.

1 A motor-fan unit comprising an electric motor 20 and a centrifugal fan22 is mounted in the rear part of the housing 10. A dust bag forseparating dust from air is contained within the housing 10 between theinlet 18 and the fan 22.

The rear end of housing 10 is closed by a transverse wall 24 which ispreferably formed with an annular outwardly extending portion 26. Casing10 is formed with an outlet conduit 28 at the top, the end of which ispreferably provided with a member 30 pivoted at 32 and formed withlouvers so as to direct the air at an angle between the vertical andhorizontal. This member 30 is pivoted in order that it may be swunginwardly when a hose is inserted in the outlet conduit 28.

A carrying handle 34 made of somewhat flexible material is secured tothe top of housing 10 immediately forward of an electric switch 36 forcontrolling the operation of the motor 20. A flexible strap member 38 isformed integrally with the handle 34 and extends along either side ofthe housing surrounding switch 36 and around the exhaust conduit 28. 7

Reference character 40 designates generally a cord- "winder having asubstantially cylindrical housing. The

ice

end 42 of the housing which faces the wall 24 of the vacuum cleaner whenthe two members are assembled is dished inwardly, as is shown at 44 inFigs. 1 and 3 so as to form a central depression. Mounted in thedepression is a bracket member 46 having a pair of horizontallyextending arms 48, each formed with a hooked end 50. Also mounted in thedepressed portion of the end 42 of the cordwinder is an electricreceptacle 52 having electric contacts recessed within the usual slots54.

The transverse wall 24 is formed with a pair of slots 56 located withinthe annular portion 26 and spaced apart the same distance as the arms 48of bracket 46 on the cordwinder. Slidably mounted on the inner side ofthe transverse wall 24 is a locking member designated generally byreference character 58, shown in perspective in Fig. 6. The upper end ofmember 58 extends through a narrow aperture formed in the top of housing10 and is there provided with a manipulating portion 60. The lower endof member 58 is formed with an elongated slot 62 through which extends abolt or the like 64 fixed in the wall 24, the bolt guiding the movementof the lower end of the member 58 and limiting the distance which it maybe raised. Member 58 is provided with a pair of notches 66 extending infrom one side thereof and spaced apart a distance equal to the spacingof the slots 56 in the wall 24. The notches 66 are so located withrespect to the elongated slot 62 that when the member 58 is in itsuppermost position, the notches 66 are in alignment with the slots 56 inwall 24, as is shown in Fig. 2. Above each of the notches 66, the member58 is formed with an inclined cam surface 68. V

The transverse wall 24 is formed with a recess 70 within which ismounted a pair of electric contact prongs 72. One of these prongs isconnected by means of a conductor 74 directly to the motor 20, While theother is connected to the motor through a conductor 76 in which isinterposed the switch 36. The prongs 72 are so located that when thearms 48 are in alignment with the slots 56, the slots 54 in the plug 52will also be in alignment with the prongs 72.

in order to attach the cordwinder 40 to the vacuum cleaner, the strap 38is lifted to at least the position shown in Fig. 2, whereupon thelocking member 58 may be slid upwardly by means of the manipulatingportion- 60. As previously stated, when member 58 is in its uppermostposition, the notches 66 thereof are in alignment with the slots 56 inthe wall 24 and consequently the arms 48 of the bracket 46 may beintroduced through the aligned slots 56 and notches 66. At the sametime,

the electric contact prongs 72will enter the slots 54in plug 52.Thereafter, the member 58 is slid downwardly. This causes the inclinedsurfaces 68 to engage the inner edges of the hooked ends 50 of the arms48 and the resulting wedging action draws the wall 42 of the cordwinderinto firm contact with the transverse wall 24 of the vacuum cleanerhousing. If desired, cushioning means, such as buttons 78 of resilientmaterial may be provided betweenthe cordwinder and the vacuum cleaner.After the locking member 58 has been moved downwardly, the resilientstrap 38 may also be forced downwardly around the exhaust conduit 28, inwhich position it'contacts the upper end of the member 58 so as toresist upward movement of the latter.

The cordwinder 46 is provided with the usual mechanism for winding up anelectric cord therein. This cord is provided with the usual plug 80which may be inserted in a wall receptacle in order to provide a supplyof elec tric current for the motor-'20. r 1 a It will be seen that thecordwinder 40 is removably attached to the vacuum, cleaner in such amanner as not to interfere with the connection of a hose to the exhaustopening 28 when it is desired to use the vacuum cleaner for blowingpurposes. Consequently, it is not necessary to remove the cordwinder forthis purpose.

While we have shown and described one more or less specific embodimentof our invention, it is to be understood that this has been done forpurposes of illustration only and that the scope of our invention is notto be limited thereby, but is to be determined from the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. In a vacuum cleaner, an elongated housing having a substantiallytransverse wall portion at one end and having an outlet passage adjacentto one edge of said said wall, a motor-fan unit in said housing adjacentto the inner side of said wall for producing flow of air therethroughand through said passage, a casing enclosing a cordwinder for supplyingcurrent to said motor, an arm extending from said casing, and a memberslidably mounted on said housing and slidably in one direction to engagesaid arm for securing said casing to the exterior of said wall entirelyto one side of said outlet passage and slidable in the oppositedirection to release said arm.

2. In a vacuum cleaner, an elongated housing having a substantiallytransverse wall portion at one end and having an outlet passage adjacentto one edge of said wall, a motor-fan unit in said housing for producingflow of air therethrough and through said passage, a casing enclosing acordwinder for supplying current to said motor, an arm extending fromsaid casing and insertable inwardly through an aperture in said wall,and a member slidably mounted on the inner side of said wall andengageable with the inserted end of said arm for releasably securingsaid casing to the exterior of said wall entirely to one side of saidoutlet passage.

3. In a vacuum cleaner, an elongated housing having a substantiallytransverse wall at one end and having an outlet passage adjacent to oneedge of said wall, a motorfan unit in said housing for producing flow ofair therethrough and through said passage, a casing enclosing acordwinder for supplying current to said motor, an electric plug carriedby said wall on the exterior thereof, an electric receptacle carried bysaid casing and engageable with said plug, an arm extending from saidcasing and insertable inwardly through an aperture in said wall, and amember slidably mounted on the inner side of said wall and engageablewith the inserted end of said arm for releasably securing said casing tothe exterior of said wall entirely to one side of said outlet passage.

4. In a vacuum cleaner, an elongated housing having a substantiallytransverse wall at one end and having an outlet passage adjacent to oneedge of said wall, said wall being formed with a recess open to theexterior of said wall, a motor-fan unit in said housing for producingflow of air therethrough and through said passage, a casing enclosing acordwinder for supplying current to said motor, an electric plug mountedin said recess, an electric receptacle carried by said casing andreceivable in said recess to engage said plug, an arm extending fromsaid casing and insertable inwardly through an aperture in said wall,and a member slidably mounted on the inner side of said wall andengageable with the inserted end of said arm for releasably securingsaid casing to the exterior of said wall entirely to one side of saidoutlet passage.

5. In a vacuum cleaner, an elongated housing having a substantiallytransverse wall portion at one end and having an outlet passage adjacentto one edge of said wall, a motor-fan unit in saidhousing for producingflow of air therethrough and through said passage, a casing enclosing acordwinder for supplying current to'said motor, an arm extending fromsaid "casing and insertable inwardly through an aperture in said wall,and a member slidably mounted on' the inner side of said wall andengageable with the inserted end of said arm for releasably locking saidcasing to the exterior of said wall entirely to one side of said outletpassage, said member having a manipulating portion extending outwardlythrough an opening in said housing, and means carried by said housingfor engaging said manipulating portion to releasably retain said memberin locking position.

6. In a vacuum cleaner, an elongated housing having a substantiallytransverse wall portion at one end and having an outlet passage adjacentto one edge of said wall, a motor-fan unit in said housing for producingflow of air therethrough and through said passage, a handle of flexiblematerial secured to the top of said housing for carrying said vacuumcleaner, a cordwinder for supplying current to said motor, an armextending from said cordwinder and insertable through an aperture insaid wall, a member slidably mounted on the inner side of said wall andengageable with the inserted end of said arm for releasably locking saidcordwinder to said wall to one side of said outlet passage, said memberhaving a manipulating portion extending outwardly through an op'ehing'inthe top of said housing, and a strap of flexible material extending fromsaid handle and engageable with said manipulating portion for retainingsaid member in locking position.

7. In a vacuum cleaner, an elongated housing having a substantiallytransverse wall portion at one end and having an outlet passage adjacentto one edge of said wall, a motor-fan unit in said housing for producingflow of air therethrough and through said passage, :1 casing enclosing acordwinder for supplying current to said motor, an arm extending fromsaid casing and insertable inwardly through an aperture in said wall,and a member slidably mounted on the inner side of said wall and havingan inclined surface wedgingly engageable with the inserted end of saidarm upon lengthwise movement of said member for releasably securing saidcasing to the exterior of said wall entirely to o'ne-side of saidoutlet? passage.

8. In a vacuum cleaner, an elongated housing having a substantiallytransverse wall portion at one end and having an outlet passage adjacentto one edge of said wall, a motor-fan unit in said housing for producingflow of air therethrough and through said passage, a casing enclosing acordwinder for supplying current to said motor, a member slidablymounted on the inner side of said wall and having a slot alignable withan aperture in said wall, an arm extending from said casing andinsertable inwardly through said slot and said aperture when said slotis aligned therewith, and an inclined surface on saidmember adjacent tosaid slot and wedgingly engageable with said arm upon lengthwisemovement of said member for releasably securing said casing to theexterior of said wall entirely to one side of said outlet passage.

9; In a vacuum cleaner, an elongated housing' having a substantiallytransverse wall portion atone end and having an outlet passage adjacentto one edge-of said wall, a motor-fan unit in said housing for producingflow of air therethrough and through said passage, a casing enclosing acordwinder for supplying current to said motor, a member slidablymounted on the inner side of said wall and having a slot alignable withan aperture in said wall, an arm extending from said casing and having ahooked end insertable inwardly through said aperture and slot when thetwo are in alignment, and an inclined surface on said member adjacent tosaid s.ot and wedgingly engageable with said hooked end upon lengthwisemovement of said member for releasably securingsaid casing to theexterior of said wall entirely to one side of said outlet passage.

10. In a vacuum cleaner, an elongated housing having a substantiallytransverse wall at one end and having an outlet passage adjacent to oneedge of said wal1, a motor-fan unit in said housing for producing flowof .air therethrough and through said passage, a casingenclosing acordwinder for supplying current to said motor,

an arm extending from said casing and insertable inwardly through anaperture in said wall, cushioning means between said casing and theexterior of said wall, and a member slidably mounted on the inner sideof said wall and having an inclined surface wedgingly engageable withthe inserted end of said arm for camming said casing against saidcushioning means for releasably securing said casing to said housingentirely to one side of said outlet passage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS500,956 Schrauder July 4, 1893 6 Smith Jan. 20, 1914 Benjamin Aug. 11,1924 Engstrom Feb. 11, 1941 Dow et a1. May 16, 1944 Gross May 15, 1945Burkoski Oct. 6, 1953 Silverman Mar. 30, 1954 Hultberg et a1. June 4,1957 Meyerhoefer Mar. 4, 1958 Humphrey Mar. 11, 1958 Tamarin Aug. 26,1958

